Ending The Stigma Starts With Us

Every time I share that I am a person recovering from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), with someone who is not in recovery, it is always in hopes that I may change their negative view of the disease, or that I might be the person that they will feel comfortable enough with to ask for support if needed.

Unfortunately, many people continue to believe that Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a character flaw or a weakness in a person. They may believe that the affected individual simply cannot hold their booze and should just STOP! But it is not that simple. A huge part of the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is the inability to stop using despite the negative consequences.

For many years, I struggled to manage my alcohol consumption, but not knowing that I actually had a disease, it proved to be extremely difficult. Just like most people, I could not grasp the power of it, and I found myself puzzled by its controlling nature. I know that if I was not affected by this disease, I would have never come to a point in my life when it took over me so hard that it robbed me of everything and everyone. This did not make any sense – how could I be continuously choosing this over my life!? I thought, any other person that would have found themselves in this condition, would immediately quit drinking, and probably cold turkey too. But not me. I drank many more years, and despite many serious consequences, I still could not stop. What was wrong with me?

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For many years, I held the same stigma towards people struggling with substance use disorder so the decision to quit drinking proved to be a huge challenge! All I could think of was that if I ask for help with getting sober I would be admitting that I had a problem! I was also afraid of the judgment that I thought I would receive, just like the judgment I had previously held of others who had addictions.

I was petrified to ask for help! I was petrified to step my foot into a meeting, I was petrified to go to rehab, and I was petrified of telling anyone anything pertaining to my disease, or even my pursuit of recovery.

In those days, I did not feel like getting sober was an amazing decision. Instead, I felt lots of shame and embarrassment, and I most definitely did not want to be an alcoholic – the word itself carried so much shame and stigma! So admitting that I had a problem and needed help was extremely overwhelming.

Then, early in recovery, I longed for acceptance from my family, and friends, and the society. I wanted to be able to share my struggles and challenges, as well as the amazing changes in my life that recovery was bringing. Yet, I felt that I was not able to share those moments because I feared the stigma that I would possibly have to face.

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I wish I had felt differently back then. I wish that maybe instead of holding on to my shame I could have been looking at this as any other disease and thinking, “I am sick, I need help.” I wish I did not have to feel like I had to hide my recovery too. I wish someone had told me that the journey to sobriety was courageous and empowering! I wish I knew that there were people out there who cared, and would support me, and cheer me on, every step of the way.

To this day, I believe that every day that I do not take a drink is a miracle because looking back, it is hard to believe that I am sober today. This was a difficult and scary journey, but I do not regret any moment of it. It has shaped me into the person that I am today, and sobriety has given me a second chance at life.

I think it is very important to deliver the message that recovery is attainable no matter how far down you have fallen! My hope is that no afflicted person will ever feel alone, hopeless and stigmatized. I would like for people to understand that Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a disease and that recovery from this disease is as amazing as running a marathon or climbing a mountain.

But for that to happen…

WE NEED TO BE THE CHANGE!

Us, the people in recovery, we need NOT be ashamed and hiding,
but instead, we must be PROUD, BOLD and LOUD!

JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association has defined alcoholism as a disease stating: “…the committee agreed to define alcoholism as a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal.”

If you, or anyone you know, is struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)*, please check out the Sober Courage menu at the top of this page for an extensive list of support groups and recovery related articles.

*Problem drinking that becomes severe is given the medical diagnosis of “alcohol use disorder” or AUD. AUD is a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive alcohol use, loss of control over alcohol intake, and a negative emotional state when not using (Ref: NIAAA).